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The car on arrival at home in Norway, and after a quick clean.
Below is a copy of the letter (without pictures) submitted to "Spartacus", the journal for members of the Spartan Owners Club.(26.2)
A Norwegian Spartan Project.
After nurturing a dream for many years, I finally invested £100 in a Triumph based Spartan which I found advertised on the internet early in 2003.
As I was living abroad, the first problem was the transporting of the car to a port and onward by sea to Norway. A local firm were helpful in transporting the car to D.F.D.S at Purfleet, from where D.F.D.S did the rest, including arranging delivery in mid-Norway (near Lillehammer)!
My local garage took delivery, as the car needed to be lifted from the delivery lorry, and there was more than just a bemused smile from the owner of the garage as I towed the Spartan away with my 4WD.
On arrival home, I took a few pictures, (one shown here) so I could recall the apparent “mess” which I had purchased.
It is amazing how a little time cleaning all the grime, spare parts and other appendages helps, and also with a beautiful afternoon, I took further pictures a day later having got rid of much of the rubbish, and removed the ”fragile” hood!
Even from the back it was looking promising………
…but as you all know, its when you really get down to the “nitty-gritty” of the engine, brakes, clutch, gearbox and so on, that you really find the work!
This is where I would be so grateful for some advice.
I have started on the engine and checked that it will turn over and that the clutch is not seized. The brakes work, but I shall dismantle them and replace old piping and shoes (and probably cylinders).
The car is described as a Herald based Spartan, registered 14.09.1967 as a Triumph Herald 1200 with a capacity of 1296cc.
My first problem was working out which polarity the car electrics used. (Does anyone know an easy way to determine this?)
Anyway, after ascertaining this, I checked the state of the electrics and with lights working (in places), tried to turn the engine. Nothing.
I checked and replaced all the obvious, including the starter motor which barely worked on the test bench, and now, at least the engine is turning. It still doesn`t start!! The car was at some time fitted with electronic ignition, but the wiring had all been either cut or otherwise destroyed, so I have removed all of the remains and returned (for the moment) to basic ignition circuits, as shown in the Triumph manual.
During these mechanical and electrical excursions, I have begun work on the interior, and have stripped the ancient rotted carpeting out to find an equally rotten floor. This was wooden ply, and whilst it took a great deal of coaxing to remove the panels, the area is now clear, and I am trying to work out the best replacement material without spending too much. Any ideas?
I can use the originals as templates for new wooden panels…….but…….
As I am enlisting help from my son and daughter (and my long suffering wife) in this project, there are several different things going on at the same time at the moment, especially as the outside temperature here is still some way below freezing. Most of the activity is preparing for the spring and ensuring I have access to the right parts and other necessities.
Amongst the things I have struggled to find are rubber replacement for the running boards, the rubber that runs between the wings and main body, and any suggestions for a replacement soft top and frame. Whilst I can find a solution to the earlier articles, I need advice, please, on the hood/tonneau and frame.
I read an article on the internet where someone had used an MG midget frame and hood as an alternative, mainly because this owner wanted to do away with the rather bulky overhead bar on the Spartan which supports the hood in the original design. Does anyone have any experience of this or other alternatives, and can anyone advise me as to a reliable supplier if I go for a replacement for the original Spartan hood?
The above picture shows some of the problems and highlights the overhead bar which I`d be fairly happy to lose if it is not a structural necessity. Any ideas? Also a new gear tunnel is needed. Can one buy ready made models? (See final picture)
The wheels, which you can just see here, and are much clearer on the first picture are being replaced with 13 inch wire wheels and spinners. The hub attachments need bolting on first and I am told that I need “special” nuts for this as the original wheel nuts cannot be used. Does anyone know what I should, therefore, be using for this?
It is my hope to update progress on a regular basis, and pass on ideas, hints and useful contacts as I go along, so I hope you will excuse me asking some probably very basic questions as I set out on this project.
I will also be starting a web page with the progress of the “Norwegian Spartan” as a centrefold, but with additional info and contact emails etc and material/links from others if available. In the meantime, if anyone can help me with contacts or advice on the above problems, I would be very grateful. I can be contacted at ma-cliff@online.no.
In the same spirit, if I can offer any help based on my own experiences with the Spartan (or other cars), please feel free to write.
Happy motoring, and thank you to anyone who can help!
From Dr.Ben Cliffe in cold but sunny(today) Norway
Accross the car with the old rotten floor removed.
The floor removed and easy access to the chassis for cleaning and a little welding work
Rear axle and suspension before renovation